Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-03-17
SANDY BOWERS'S FORTUNE
Two Ten-FoOt Claims ON the Comstock Mad
Him and His Wife Very Rich.

Two Ten-FoOt Claims on the Comstock Made
Him and His Wife Very Rich.
Sandy Bowers's mansion at Frank
town, New, is torn down, says the Denver
Tribune. Sandy was one of the lucky char
acters in Nevada in an early day. He
owned ten feet on the Bowers claim on
the Comstock, now known as the Imperi-
al Consolidated, and certain cookbook
ing girl owned another ten feet. When
the bonanza on the claim was struck, the
ownership of a single foot made a man
wealthy. Sandy was more than wealthy;
he had money to throw to the dogs, and
while he did not literally throw it that
way he threw lots of it to the boys who
needed it. To know Sandy Bowers
was to have a sure thing on stake.
When money was coming in most plenti-
fully Sandy and the pretty girl to whom
he had given the ten feet on the Bowers
joined their fortunes and got married,
and went to Europe on a wedding trip.
Sandy was no fool. He could well act the
part Of cultured gentleman, and Mrs.
Bowers could act the part of lady. They
obtained an introduction to aristocratic
and royal circles in nearly every country
they visited and they made their tour
D.
ed to Queen Victoria, and she cut quite a
dash IN Partisan circles.
During his absence Sandy instructed
his Nevada agent to build him palace In
certain spot at Franktown. The loca-
ton was beautifully chosen. 1t was on
the edge of plain, close to the foot of a
pine covered mountain, out of whose
sides dubbed hot and cold water springs.
The palace was built of cut granite. 1t
was long, wide building, with wing at
each side. It contained seventy rooms,
each one large, and with high ceilings.
The staircases were wide, and of the most
costly and beautiful wood. The bath
rooms were finished in marble, and every
portion of the iuteiOr of the house was
as fine as it could be. The hot and cold
springs back of the house carried water
to the house and the beautiful lawn sur
rounding it, and made lakes and fouR-
tains. In one small pond was a pretty
island, on which was bird house made
of glass. The stables were filled with
blooded stock, and the conservatory
with rare and costly plants. The house
was furnished with the richest furniture,
carpets, and curtains that money could
buy, and it was palace of luxury.
Mr.. and Mrs. Bowers entertained splen-
didly and the latchstring was always out.
No tired foOtsore, or dead-broke pros
pector ever knocked at the door in vain.
Sandy never forgot his old companions
or his occupations, and, as the boys said.
"He didn't feel a id bit bigger than he
did before ne wore billed shirts"
But it didn't last long, for one day San
dy died, leaving his widow with one little
yellow-haired girl. After his death Mrs.
Bowers became the victim of very IN
scrupulous swindler, and soon became IN
volved in debt. She rented the house for
dance house and kindred purposes, and
it rapidly went to ruin. Finally the little
girl died and was buried on the mountain
side behind the house beside her father.
Her death broke the spirit of Mrs. Bow
ers, who had by that time lost her
diamonds and everything she owned, and
she gave up the palace to the man who
one Of the penniTess prospectors who had
| been entertained at her house in the days
of her prosperity. The whirligig of min
ing fortune brought him his luck and he
is now solid citizen of Reno. AS for
Mrs. Bowers, she is an astrologer and
fortune-teller in San Francisco.